Kindergarten Field Trip to the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk

Today I went as a chaperone on Ryan's school field trip. We went to the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk. It was a nice day, not too hot, actually a little chilly in the shade. The kids enjoyed seeing all the animals. After the zoo we went over to the park for lunch and playtime, then it was back to school. I had to try and keep track of 5 non-listening little boys which was stressfull, not sure if I'll go along again. Kaitlin had a good time too. She's just now knowing some of those different animals. They have a petting zoo w/ pigs, goats, cows, lamas, donkeys etc... Her favorite part was the duck pond where we also saw a lot of geese and turtles sunning themselves. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Beach Stroll and Lunch

Friday I met my mom's group (SAHM's of Hampton Roads) and we went for a stroller walk up and down the boardwalk. We went about 40 total blocks (20 up and 20 back). It was quite the workout. It looked like a mob of strollers with about 20 of us. A few people asked if we were part of the new stroller workout fad. They have horses on the beach now that you can "rent" to ride. We just liked to pet them for a few mins. Kaitlin says "neigh" very well. After the walk we all sat and had lunch. You can see the king neptune statue in the background (behind Kaity). We had a good day, it was overcast but I prefer it that way since if it was a hot sunny day I wouldn't have been able to go.

Day at the Park

Thursday Kaitlin and I met some friends at the park and had a picnic lunch too. She's really starting to get adventurous and fearless which is good and bad. She loves to climb all the way to the highest spot and just sit there and not go down the slide. She was showing her neatness at the park by trying to pick up even the smallest piece of trash and throw it away. She can't stand a mess or clutter! I guess I've taught her well - I'm always straightening things up. We had such a nice day it was near 80! Here are some pics we took.

Happy Easter

Easter Sunday went by very fast! We had so much to do and not much time to do it! Ryan dyed eggs with Aunt Stacey and Uncle Bob on Saturday night so they were ready for the Easter Bunny to hide! When he got up in the morning he could hunt for his basket and the plastic eggs in the house. To his surprise there was money in some of the eggs! Then we all got ready and went to church. When we got home we had discovered that the Easter Bunny had also hidden the real eggs outside! As soon as Nonnie and Jack came Ryan could go out and find them. While we were waiting for them to get there the girls got to hunt for their eggs. To my surprise Meagan and Kaitlin knew exactly what to do! They found the eggs, shook them and put them right into their baskets. The girls also got baskets filled with all kinds of goodies but their eggs were filled with goldfish crackers and teddy grahams... We needed to leave Aunt Stacey's by 2pm to get home at a decent time for Ryan to be able to go to school on Monday. We did leave about 2:30pm and got home at 6pm to see daddy. Kaitlin and Ryan hadn't seen him since the Monday morning before. Chris grilled cheeseburgers on the grill and we had a nice dinner and some time to relax after the long trip. Then it was time to get unpacking and reorganized!!

Spring Break

Wednesday, April 12th we drove up to Aunt Stacey's house in Ashburn, VA. We stayed there until Sunday. Wednesday we had "girls night" and went out to do some shopping - what girls do best!! Thursday we joined Aunt Stacey and Meagan at their weekly playgroup at our friend Robin's house. Friday we went to visit Pop Pop and Grandma Gail and Ryan stayed the night w/ Nonnie and they went to see Ice Age 2. Saturday we went over to mom's for easter dinner and to see Gi Gi. We had to split Easter up into 2 days so I could leave at a decent time to get home on Sunday. The kids had fun playing at the park at Nonnie's. It was a beautiful day - was suppose to rain and didn't - that's always nice. Here are some of the pics we took at Nonnie's park.

Jessie

Many of you have been asking how Jessie is doing. Well she will be one next month on May 20th. She has been getting better. I'd say she's 75% house broken. We can't leave her alone in a room for long or she'll find something to chew up. She doesn't really know the difference between her toys and the kids toys. She has figured out how to go up and down the stairs and will do that any chance she gets (she use to be afraid of the steps). She whines when she doesn't have her doggie bed to lay on. When we wash it she goes crazy until she get's it back. Her last visit to the vet she was just over 20lbs. We have been told that she's not going to get much bigger, which is fine w/ us. Here's a picture I took of her last week.

Ryan the Pilot

Ryan attended a birthday party at the Air and Space Museum in Hampton, VA on Sunday. They got to have a science demonstration w/ liquid Nitrogen - very cool, and a flight simulation ride - which ended up being just a motion simulator - like you were on a roller coaster. He thought that was the best part! He also got to make a kite to take home. Here he is as Ryan the pilot! This was also the first time I was away from Kaitlin for any extended period of time. We left the house about 12:30 and got home about 4pm!! She was sleeping most of the time we were gone but still good b/c I got to get out and have some much needed one on one time with Ryan.

Signs of Spring - Finally

It finally has arrived. Spring is here! My flowers are in bloom and I am all congested...and so is Kaitlin. We seem to be the only ones that suffer from allergies. Ryan use to but not so bad down here. Mine seem to only last about a week instead of a month like they did in DC. Here are some pictures of our yard. While I was at mom's last weekend Chris was putting the wood timbers around the flower beds. Looks nice!

Happy Birthday Jack

This past Wednesday was Jack's birthday. Mom had a party for him on Saturday at her house. Ryan, Kaitlin and I went up on Friday to help set up for the party and celebrate. I think he was shocked to see so many people there! Surprise!

We had a good visit, although it is always too short. When we came home Chris had done some landscaping in the yard and it looks beautiful. A little at a time and before you know it our back yard will be done too! I can't wait for that fence to be up.

This week is looking good. Kaitlin and I have Babygarten on Wednesday and playdates Tues and Friday. This weekend Ryan has a b-day party at the Air and Space Museum. It really sounds like a lot of fun, they get to go on a flight simulator ride! He is counting down the days.

We are warming up this week low 60's to start and 70's by the weekend and next week. Has spring finally arrived? I hope so. We want everything to bloom so that our allergies will go away. Kaitlin and I have really been suffering the past week.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Hope everyone has had a great St. Patrick's Day so far. Kaitlin and I went to a playgroup that had a "green" theme this morning. She is wearing a kilt that was mine...held up pretty good for being 30 years old! I have been told that my grandparents got in when they were visiting Scottland/England so it's authenic. Other than that nothing eventfull. Too bad we can't go out tonight and celebrate, we'd need a sitter for that (and a child that would be ok w/ being left with one). Ryan would be ok but Kaity on the other hand.... and we just never know if she's going to sleep all night or not.

Spring is here!

We have had beautiful weather the past few days. Starting Thursday w/ low 70's and today and tomorrow in the low 80's. This week we got a visit from Aunt Stacey and cousin Meagan on wednesday and they left on saturday morning. I can't believe how big she's getting. She's walking now and has 5 teeth!! She is also talking and signing a lot. Kaitlin had fun having a playmate for a few days. They get along well but each have certain things they are possesive of. Ryan had fun watching and playing with Meagan too, she really loves on him a lot!

Saturday afternoon we had some excitement in the neighborhood. Almost in our back yard. A neighbor thought they had put out a small fire in their back yard and well it wasn't quite out!! It lead to a huge brush fire and the fire department had to be called. Chris and other neighbors rushed to put it out w/ hoses, bucket, coolers you name it, full of water. It took about 2 1/2 hours to get it out. They even had to bring in a ladder truck to battle it from the field behind us. Here are some pics -

A new week

Kaitlin is getting over her cold she's had since Thursday morning. We had a little scare on Sat (very early morning about 1:30am) - she was weazing a bit and I was scared she had croup again. But she must have just had a dry throat. She seems ok today, nose is still running a little. Hopefully we will be able to go to our 2 playdates this week. Tomorrow is Ocean Tumblers, a lot of fun! Ryan has informed us that he's ready for the training wheels to be taken off of his bike! We'll see what happens. In a few weeks when the weather gets warm and stays warm he'll be able to get out a lot more. Thursday we were almost 80 and he had a great time on his scooter and bike.

Signs of spring are here! We have a ton of Robins in the back yard and all of our trees are flowering. My tulips and daffodils are almost all the way up, can't wait to see what they end up looking like!

Kaitlin's Stats

Today Kaitlin had her 18 month well check up. Here are her stats: Weight 23.8 lbs (less than 50%), Height 32 1/4 inches (over 50%), head 19 inches (right at 90 %). Her head did not grow which is good - it's back on the curve again. Last time it had taken a jump. Her diagnosis is healthy and she's off the charts as far as motor skills for 18 mos.

After her appt. we went to the grocery store to pick up the order I placed online last night, well it wasn't ready. So to make it up to me I got a large caramel macchiato on them! I'm glad they have a starbucks inside. Kaitlin also got a pink balloon, she was very happy about it. It only took about 5 mins and my order was ready. They had 3 people shopping for me...I felt so important!

Tomorrow is our first Babygarten class and we are looking forward to it. Hopefully Kaitlin will be able to sit still through it all. Wish us luck.

Getting Ready for a Busy Week

This past week was kind of busy but this week we are going to be busy every day. Kaitlin and I have a playgroup everyday and she has her 18 month appt. on Tues. Sometime this week we are going to have to squeeze in the grocery store!

My dad was here this past weekend. We had a nice visit. Gail and I went into "downtown" Suffolk. She didn't know there was one. I showed her all of the old victorian houses and the old chruches. We then went to an antique shop that was going out of business. I could have bought a lot of things but we just don't have room in the house for things to just sit out and look pretty. Everything needs to have a function. We went out to dinner and then they went to stay at the beach. They came buy this morning before driving home and we went to lunch.

We are still having very weird weather. Saturday it was 65 then Sunday barely 40. I hope it warms up a little this week.

I'll post and update to Kaitlin's dr. appt on Tues....

Happy President's Day

We started our day waking up to SNOW! Not much just a dusting. I put some in my hand to show Kaitlin and she wouldn't even touch it! I don't blame her, it's cold. Today Ryan is home from school and we are going to the mall to get his hair cut - he needs it bad. Then I'm going to let the kids run around in the play area and have some lunch. Hopefully Kaitlin will fall asleep in the car on the way home. Then it's laundry time and getting the house back in shape after the weekend.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!! Hope everyone is having or has had a good day. Kaitlin and I went to Ryan's class for his Valentine party at 2pm. She had a really good time hanging out with the big kids. Ryan also had a good time showing her off to his classmates. Tonight Chris is coaching Ryan's last basketball practice. Romantic huh? Thanks to everyone who sent cards/gifts to the kids. They love getting things in the mail.

Burrrr it's cold outside

Well that early spring is gone!! It was definately winter this weekend. Sat it got up into the 40's and Sunday never made it to 40!! This morning when I got up it was only 21! At least we only got snow flurries yesterday. My family in NoVA got about 10 inches. Jessie had fun trying to catch the flakes. I like a little snow only over the weekend (b/c I don't want to have to drive in it) for the kids to play in but other than that it can stay away! I did hear on the news this morning that we are going to be in the 60's again by Wed. I hope it sticks around for a while. With temps this cold I don't want to leave the house.

More Warm Weather

Well it was 72 yesterday!! I'm loving this winter - if you can call it that. Today is the last day of another warm streek. It's going to be about 68 or so but rainy. Yesterday we had a playgroup at our house and it was nice to go out and play. We put up Kaitlin's new swing on the playset and she had a blast watching the older kids run around. All she wants to do is run out of our yard to go see the dog 2 houses over! Next week is cold again (40's 50's) and then who knows. Maybe some snow showers on Sunday...we haven't seen any snow yet. I wonder if we can make a whole season w/o it?? I'm so ready for Spring (minus the alergies). My tulips and daffodils are already starting to sprout from it being so warm!

Diagnosis: Healthy

Ryan went to the doctor on Thursday for his late 6 year well check up. He is 52 lbs and 46 inches tall. He is now in the 75% for each. He use to be tall for his age but now he's just slightly taller than average. We noticed he was no longer the tallest in his class once he entered Kindergarten. He doesn't need any "pinches" until he's 11 and he's very happy about that! Except for the annual flu shot of course. The doctor always asks him a series of questions to answer. Here are some of his responses: his favorite food is still sweet potatoes, his favorite fruits are bananas and cherries, his favorite thing to do at school is to go outside and play, he does drink milk but likes juice and water too. He can jump on one foot and walk on his heels and then on his toes.

Gifted and Talented

Ryan's teacher called us last night and told me that she was going to reccomend him for the KIND program at their school. It's a gifted and talented program for Kindergartners. He has to take a test and be accepted but she has no doubt he will do fine. We are so proud of him and he's pretty excited too! He's already been doing 1st grade work along with one other classmate. This new program will hopefully challenge him even more. Way to go Ryan.